[stezo2k]

Version 1.0 21/04/05

WARNING: I hold NO responsibility for any damage caused

WARNING: Before starting make sure you find out how to reset your BIOS for if the PC fails to boot and doesn't recover itself

NOTE: Socket 754 users make sure you have a PCI/AGP lock and it's enabled before overclocking, else you'll be lucky to get 220FSB. If you don't have a PCI/AGP lock i'd advise you not to overclock because it could damage your graphics card/PCI devices

1. Recommended Tools:

Prime '95 (For testing stability) http://www.mersenne.org/freesoft.htm
A program to check your CPU temp, motherboard monitor is good http://mbm.livewiredev.com/download.html
Memtest '86 (for checking for RAM errors) http://www.memtest86.com/
CPU-Z (For checking CPU info) http://www.cpuid.org/cpuz.php
Benchmarking software, 3D mark is good http://futuremark.com/download/

2. What you need to know

Overclocking can strain your system, and in the worst cases damage your hardware if you don't know what you're doing, do not overclock if your PC unless you are confident with PC hardware/software.

Overclocking is an art and a hobby of mine, you can get more for your money when overclocking, e.g my 3000+ (s939) cost be £120, when i overclock it to 2.2GHz, it has the same performance as the 3500+, which is around £200, thus saving £80.

Heat effects your CPU, as you overclock your CPU, your CPU will gain more heat, keep an eye on your CPU temps.

Don't let the CPU go anything over 60C idle, else you risk your CPU of being damaged.

If you want to lower your temps, getting better cooling is a good idea, I don't know of many good Athlon 64 heatsinks, but watercooling is highly recommended for overclocking and can nock around 20C off your temps. I find the stock AMD heatsink is pretty good for a decent overclock anyway, overclocked my CPU is only 32C idle.

RAM is a big factor when it comes to CPU overclocking, as the FSB (front side bus) increases, the RAM speed also does too. I'd only recommend overclocking with RAM which is DDR400 (PC3200) or faster, otherwise you won't get much more out of your CPU. With RAM, you usually get what you pay for, if you have pricey stuff, chances are it will overclock well, if you have generic/value DDR400 RAM, you'll be lucky to get 220FSB out of it without dropping the RAM speed. If you want good RAM which won't need to be reduced in speed for an overclock, i'd go for RAM faster than DDR400 (PC3200), brands like OCZ and Crucial are highly recommended for overlocking.

Obviously, the CPU itself is a factor when overclocking. Here is a list of what Athlon 64 CPUs are the best for overclocking at present:

Athlon 64 3000+ (Winchester & Venice Cores)
Athlon 64 3200+ (Winchester & Venice Cores)
Athlon 64 3500+ (Winchester & Venice Cores)
Athlon 64 3800+ (Venice Core)
Athlon 64 FX53 (All cores)
Athlon 64 FX55 (All cores)

Your core info can be found on CPU-Z found at the top of the guide

Just because your CPU isn't on the list, doesn't mean it can't overclock very well, it's just those CPUs are common for high overclocks, so socket 754 users don't worry, but I have to agree at present, socket 939 is the best for overclocking.

Not all CPUs are the same, some models run hotter than others (my friends who has a very similar setup to me has his CPU 8C hotter than mine, and his is bearly overclocked)

Core Guide:

Clawhammer: Moderate Overclocking Possibilities (Variable)
Sledgehammer: Moderate Overclocking Possibilities
Newcastle: Low/Moderate Overclocking Possibilities (Variable)
Winchester: Moderate/High Overclocking Possibilities
Venice: Moderate/High Overclocking Possibilities

Low: 200-300 MHz overclock
Moderate: Around 500 MHz+ overclock
High: 700MHz+ overclock

Remember: The more you overclock, the more chances of your system becoming unstable, to help make your system stable, add an extra small voltage to your CPU(AKA Vcore)/RAM

3. Overclocking

OK, now here's an example of an overclock:

AMD Athlon 64 3000 (Winchester S939)
Stock Speed: 1800MHz
Multiplier: 9X

*Remember to keep an eye on the CPU temp, try not to get it over 60C*

1. Enter your bios by pressing Del or F2 (Varies which each motherboard)
2. Set the HTT multiplier to 4
3. I'm using DDR400, so i'd lower it to DDR333 (or the lower the RAM number in the RAM:CPU ratio) to make the RAM more stable as the FSB goes up, don't forget at 250FSB, the RAM will be 400MHz again
4. Keep increasing the FSB by 3-5mhz and testing in between each increase
5. Unstable at 262 FSB
6. Increased CPU voltage by 0.025v and RAM voltage slightly
7. Stable
8. Keep increasing the FSB by 3-5mhz and testing in between each increase
9. Unstable at 267 FSB
10. Changed DDR Speed to DDR266 (because of the RAM being DDR400, over 250FSB it would run past DDR400)
11. Stable again
12. Keep increasing the FSB by 3-5mhz and testing in between each increase
13. Unstable at 282 FSB
14. Went back to last stable overclock (267 FSB), i feel this is a good enough overclock

Stable Overclock: 267 x 9 = 2400 MHz
Stock Speed: 1800 MHz
An overclock of 600 MHz

This post has been edited by stezo2k: Apr 20 2005, 07:17 PM

[Hardass]

May be worth mentioning the HTT value, and trying to keep it close to 1000. Also, I like Windows based Overclocking tools, as you can wind the wick up and test quite quickly, then just set the max stable FSB in BIOS. Also the fact that loosening RAM timings will help a high FSB. I can run at 2-2-2-5 at 240 FSB but need to go up to 2.5-3-3-8 for 280.

[Bile_Hazard]

pretty nice guide, unfortunatly i cant overclock on my mobo, dont havethe AGP/PCI locks, tried like a week ago and anything i did locked up my comp. so i gave up, just have to wait till i get a different mobo in the summer.

[snoopaloop]

May be worth mentioning the HTT value, and trying to keep it close to 1000. Also, I like Windows based Overclocking tools, as you can wind the wick up and test quite quickly, then just set the max stable FSB in BIOS. Also the fact that loosening RAM timings will help a high FSB. I can run at 2-2-2-5 at 240 FSB but need to go up to 2.5-3-3-8 for 280.

What Windows based overclocking tools do you use?

Also, I have been overclocking my 3000+ NewCastle on an Asus K8v deluxe, which doesn't offer that many options and I have heard people were having trouble overclocking with it, but so far I have the FSB(HTT) up over 225 with no problems and temps around 34 C.

[staind]

i overclocked my 2800+ (clawhammer) on an asrock760GX to 2.2 at 240 fsb

[stezo2k]

What Windows based overclocking tools do you use?

Also, I have been overclocking my 3000+ NewCastle on an Asus K8v deluxe, which doesn't offer that many options and I have heard people were having trouble overclocking with it, but so far I have the FSB(HTT) up over 225 with no problems and temps around 34 C.

Professional overclockers don't use Windows based overclocking tools, we always overclock in the BIOS, which keeps it a perminent overclock until we change it. With windows based OC tools, it's harder to test stability, when overclocking in the BIOS it attempts to boot with a higher clock speed, booting can strain hardware at first, so it's easier to tell if you have a stable overclock.

As for the K8V, i heard that it doesn't have an AGP lock so you won't be able to overclock much with that board i'm afraid.

i overclocked my 2800+ (clawhammer) on an asrock760GX to 2.2 at 240 fsb

That's a pretty good overclock for a s754 CPU, well done

This post has been edited by stezo2k: Apr 30 2005, 01:37 PM

[staind]

i was tempted to go for 2.4 but since i put all my savings into it (i'm still a student) and i don't want to see my cpu melting i think i'll hold on to the 2.2

[strekship]

How do i check for a PCI/AGP lock.

[stezo2k]

How do i check for a PCI/AGP lock.

have a look around the bios, if you've got one you'll know about it

[strekship]

Ok, thanks.

[brozly]

Did you check your manual?

[pje]

Hi you mean their is guides to help you overclock computer man i did it the hard way
AMD64 3000+ 939 250HTTx9X4@ 2.25 ghz 34c @1.45v on stock cooling
4x256mb geil value series ddr400 divided by 3 or 166mhz,with the fsb running at 250 it = my memory to 204mhz x2(ddr)=408mhz volts at 2.7 seem to run fine. any higher it gets unstable timings 2.5/4/4/8 2t i have read thatthe 2t it gives the ram altittle more time to refesh?or hold on the charge alittle longer if i turned one 1t its unstable.
Gigabyte ga-k8ns 939 mainboard
2 80 GIG sata2 hd raid 0
pny geforce 6800gt
500 watt x connect ps

nothing to fancy, gets the job done.

[MajorPayne]

The article is correct about the overclocking potential of some of the new Winchester cores (I have not had a Venice core to play with yet). I have an A64 3000+ Winchester core (default clockspeed is 1.8 MHZ). I am running it in a DFI SLI motherboard, with 2 GB of 400 MHZ DDR RAM (2x1GB sticks at 2-3-2-7 timing). Currently, I am running it a 300 HTT on the stock CPU Multiplier (9x), which puts my CPU at 2.7 GHZ. I am running a 3X HTT multi, so my final HTT speed is 900MHZ, and I am running my core voltage at 1.65V. My RAM is running at a 7/10 divider (DFI gives you a TON of memory dividers), so the final RAM speed is a little overclocked at 414 MHZ. I have RAM voltage at 2.9V currently. This is on AIR cooling (a Coolermaster Hyper6 in a Enermax CS-718S case with the inverted motherboard, and windtunnel cooling).

I have never had a system that would overclock so well on air cooling. I was actually able to hit 275 HTT on stock air cooling, but things were getting a little hotter than I liked, so I added the Hyper6 before going up further. It is VERY stable at this speed (I ran Prime95 for 48 hours to test stability on it initially, and I have also tested with superPi, Memtest, and 3dMark03 and 3dMark05). I love these new AMD processors! I DO wish I had a Venice core to play, but since the difference between the 2 is likely to be fairly small, and I would have to be very lucky to get another processor that overclocks as well, I will stick with my Winchester -- it rocks!

[hookedm]

Could you do the same with an FX-55 ?

M

[Spoony_McSpoon]

you can indeed. don't forget the FX series come with the multiplier unlocked.
i normally run 210 x 14 = ~2940Mhz

having some stability issues with this RAM + the FX55 memory controller, i swear it's my RAM stopping me from breeching 3Ghz. had some nice overclocks on my old nForce2 though 2-6-3-3 @ 255Mhz. can any one recommend some RAM that will overclock with the AMD64 memory controllers?

[Infamouz]

I'm curious.. i have a 3500+ clawhammer, would this be ok to OC with, or what?

[hookedm]

My board does not come with overclocking features like FSB, multiplier, voltage adjustments at all. It is really a pity as we are unable to determine if there is a FIX PCI/PCI-E within the chipset that most overclockers are looking for. The only adjustments we can find are options for ASync 166,133,100 operation. HTT width can be set to operate in 8 or 16 bits. HTT freq can be set to 1GHz, 800MHz, 600Mhz, 400 MHz.

http://www.ocworkbench.com/2004/msi/ms-7093/b7.htm



k, my bios is jacked. All i have is as follows.

PCI Latency Timer def@ 64 goes to 255
DRAM config / Memclock (mhz) def@200 options 166,133,100
CAS latency def@2.5 options for 2,2.5,3 only


what can i do with this pos mobo

M

This post has been edited by hookedm: May 19 2005, 08:47 PM

[hookedm]

no , i cant replace it ... long story

[Hippo]

stezo2k, what is your core voltage?
mine is at 248HTT, 4x, 5:6 divider i think.
i have 3000 winchester and some OCZ 3200. Although the ram doesnt overclock well.

[guru]

MadShrimps has published their own Athlon64 Overclocking Guide. Check it out here.

[Ad Bot]